Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed French President François Hollande in a telephone call Wednesday evening of his willingness to fly to Paris to engage in direct talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas without preconditions, Israel's Ynet reported on Thursday.

Netanyahu’s suggestion was made as an alternative to the French-initiated international peace conference, in which the Israeli prime minister has already announced his country’s refusal to participate, based on the premise that “it will not contribute to peace.”

If the conference did not take place, Netanyahu told Hollande that he would fly to the French capital to meet with Abbas without preconditions—a long-held line espoused by the Israeli premier.

Source:  MENA